Laminated thermoelectric conversion element

Abstract

A laminated thermoelectric conversion element is a laminated thermoelectric conversion element that has: a first end surface and a second end surface opposed to each other; a heat absorption surface; and a heat release surface, where p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers and n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers are electrically connected and at the same time, laminated alternately in a meander form with insulating layers partially interposed there between, in an intermediate part, the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers are laminated which have a p-type basic thickness, whereas the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers are laminated which have an n-type basic thickness, and the thickness of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layer or n-type thermoelectric conversion material layer outside the insulating layer located closest to any of the first end surface and second end surface is larger as compared with the basic thickness of the thermoelectric conversion material layer with the same type of conductivity.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermoelectric conversion element having a central axis, the thermoelectric conversion element comprising:
 (a) first and second opposed end surfaces extending perpendicular to the central axis; 
 (b) opposed heat absorption and heat release surfaces extending parallel to the central axis; 
 (c) first and second end portions located adjacent the first and second opposed end surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element, respectively, and a central portion located between the first and second end portions, all as viewed along a plane extending parallel to the central axis; 
 (d) a plurality of planar p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers each lying in a respective plane extending perpendicular to the central axis and having a respective thickness as measured along the central axis, the p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers being arranged in an alternating fashion between the first and second end surfaces to define a plurality of unique pairs of adjacent n-type and p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers, the adjacent thermoelectric conversion layers of each unique pair having opposed main surfaces which face one another to define a respective interface; 
 (e) a plurality of insulating layers, each insulating layer being associated with a respective unique pair of adjacent n-type and p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers and extending part way into the interface of the unique pair such that a first portion of the opposed main surfaces of the respective unique pair abut one another and a second portion of the opposed main surfaces of the respective unique pair are separated the associated insulating layer to form a serpentine path for the flow of current between the first and second opposed end surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element, the first portion of the opposed main surfaces of each of the unique pairs being substantially the same length; and 
 (f) a plurality of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers being located in the central portion, each of these being rectangular in cross section as viewed in a plane extending perpendicular to the central axis, the respective thickness of each of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers located in the central portion being the same and being an n-type basic thickness, the first end portion comprising a first outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers whose respective thickness is greater than the n-type basic thickness and which has a rounded surface which does not extend to beyond the interface between the first outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers and its adjacent p-type thermoelectric conversion layer in a direction extending perpendicular to the opposed heat absorption and heat release surfaces. 
 
     
     
       2. The thermoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective thickness of the first outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers is twice the n-type basic thickness. 
     
     
       3. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 2 , wherein the first outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers is formed of a single, unitary n-type thermoelectric conversion layer. 
     
     
       4. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 2 , wherein the first outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers is formed of a pair of adjacent unitary n-type thermoelectric conversion material sub-layers. 
     
     
       5. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 4 , wherein each of the adjacent unitary n-type thermoelectric conversion material sub-layers has a thickness, as measured along the central axis, that is equal to the n-type basic thickness. 
     
     
       6. The thermoelectric conversion element according to  claim 1 , wherein the second end portion comprises a second outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers whose respective thickness is greater than the n-type basic thickness and a rounded outer surface which does not extend to the interface between the second outermost one on the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers and its adjacent p-type thermoelectric conversion element. 
     
     
       7. The thermoelectric conversion element according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second outermost ones of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers are each formed of a respective single, unitary thermoelectric conversion layer. 
     
     
       8. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second outermost ones of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers are each formed of a respective pair of adjacent unitary n-type thermoelectric conversion material sub-layers. 
     
     
       9. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 8 , wherein each of the adjacent unitary n-type thermoelectric conversion material sub-layers has a thickness, as measured along the central axis, that is equal to the n-type basic thickness. 
     
     
       10. A thermoelectric conversion element having a central axis, the thermoelectric conversion element comprising:
 (a) first and second opposed end surfaces extending perpendicular to the central axis; 
 (b) opposed heat absorption and heat release surfaces extending parallel to the central axis; 
 (c) first and second end portions located adjacent the first and second opposed end surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element, respectively, and a central portion located between the first and second end portions, all as viewed along a plane extending parallel to the central axis; 
 (d) a plurality of planar p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers each lying in a respective plane extending perpendicular to the central axis and having a respective thickness as measured along the central axis, the p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers being arranged in an alternating fashion between the first and second end surfaces to define a plurality of unique pairs of adjacent n-type and p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers, the adjacent thermoelectric conversion layers of each unique pair having opposed main surfaces which face one another to define a respective interface; 
 (e) a plurality of insulating layers, each insulating layer being associated with a respective unique pair of adjacent n-type and p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers and extending part way into the interface of the unique pair such that a first portion of the opposed main surfaces of the respective unique pair abut one another and a second portion of the opposed main surfaces of the respective unique pair are separated the associated insulating layer to form a serpentine path for the flow of current between the first and second opposed end surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element, the first portion of the opposed main surfaces of each of the unique pairs being substantially the same length; and 
 (f) a plurality of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers being located in the central portion, each of these being rectangular in cross section as viewed in a plane extending perpendicular to the central axis, the respective thickness of each of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers located in the central portion being the same and being a p-type basic thickness, the first end portion comprising a first outermost one of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers whose respective thickness is greater than the p-type basic thickness and which has a rounded surface which does not extend to beyond the interface between the first outermost one of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers and its adjacent n-type thermoelectric conversion layer in a direction extending perpendicular to the opposed heat absorption and heat release surfaces. 
 
     
     
       11. The thermoelectric conversion element according to  claim 10 , wherein the respective thickness of the first outermost one of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers is twice the p-type basic thickness. 
     
     
       12. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 11 , wherein the first outermost one of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers is formed of a single, unitary thermoelectric conversion layer. 
     
     
       13. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 12 , wherein the first outermost one of the p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers is formed of a pair of adjacent unitary p-type thermoelectric conversion material sub-layers. 
     
     
       14. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 13 , wherein each of the adjacent unitary p-type thermoelectric conversion material sub-layers has a thickness, as measured along the central axis, that is equal to the p-type basic thickness. 
     
     
       15. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 10 , wherein the outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers is formed of a single, unitary thermoelectric conversion layer. 
     
     
       16. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 10 , wherein the outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers is formed of a respective pair of adjacent unitary n-type thermoelectric conversion material sub-layers. 
     
     
       17. The thermoelectric conversion element of  claim 16 , wherein each of the adjacent unitary n-type thermoelectric conversion material sub-layers has a thickness, as measured along the central axis, that is equal to the n-type basic thickness. 
     
     
       18. A thermoelectric conversion element having a central axis, the thermoelectric conversion element comprising:
 (a) first and second opposed end surfaces extending perpendicular to the central axis; 
 (b) opposed heat absorption and heat release surfaces extending parallel to the central axis; 
 (c) first and second end portions located adjacent the first and second opposed end surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element, respectively, and a central portion located between the first and second end portions, all as viewed along a plane extending parallel to the central axis; 
 (d) a plurality of planar p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers each lying in a respective plane extending perpendicular to the central axis and having a respective thickness as measured along the central axis, the p-type and n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers being arranged in an alternating fashion between the first and second end surfaces to define a plurality of unique pairs of adjacent n-type and p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers, the adjacent thermoelectric conversion layers of each unique pair having opposed main surfaces which face one another to define a respective interface; 
 (e) a plurality of insulating layers, each insulating layer being associated with a respective unique pair of adjacent n-type and p-type thermoelectric conversion material layers and extending part way into the interface of the unique pair such that a first portion of the opposed main surfaces of the respective unique pair abut one another and a second portion of the opposed main surfaces of the respective unique pair are separated the associated insulating layer-to form a serpentine path for the flow of current between the first and second opposed end surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element, the first portion of the opposed main surfaces of each of the unique pairs being substantially the same length; and 
 (f) a plurality of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers being located in the central portion, the respective thickness of each of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers located in the central portion being the same and being an n-type basic thickness, the first end portion comprising a first outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers whose respective thickness is greater than the n-type basic thickness, which has an outer surface which extends to the interface between the first outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers and its adjacent p-type thermoelectric conversion layer and which forms a right angle with that interface, at least part of the outer surface being rounded. 
 
     
     
       19. The thermoelectric conversion element according to  claim 18 , wherein the respective thickness of the first outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layer is twice the n-type basic thickness. 
     
     
       20. The thermoelectric conversion element according to  claim 18 , wherein the second end portion comprises a second outermost one of the n-type thermoelectric conversion layers whose thickness is greater than the n-type basic thickness and a rounded outer surface which does not extend to the interface between the second outermost one on the n-type thermoelectric conversion material layers and its adjacent p-type thermoelectric conversion element.